Call Him The Rapist

Words matter. Labels matter. And in a time when truth itself is under attack, using the correct and factual terms to describe public figures—especially those seeking or are already in power—is not only necessary but vital for a functioning democracy. 

The rapist draft dodger trump is not just a president. He is a convicted felon. He has been found liable for sexual abuse (rape) in a court of law. He has used his platform and power to mock people with disabilities, attack women, demean people of color, belittle veterans, and stigmatize people with addictions. Sugarcoating these facts or avoiding the proper labels is dangerous.

Let’s be clear, the truth should not be softened for the sake of political convenience or social comfort.

Why We Must Use the Labels

1. Truth Telling Is a Form of Resistance

Calling Trump a convicted felon or a rapist isn’t name-calling. It’s truth-telling. He was found liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll by a jury of his peers. He is a convicted felon for falsifying business records in connection with hush money paid to cover up damaging information before the 2016 election. These are not rumors—they are legal determinations. To ignore or downplay these facts is to gaslight the public.

2. Language Shapes Memory and Accountability

People forget quickly, especially in the whirlwind of politics and media spin. Labels remind us of who someone has shown themselves to be, not who they or their followers pretend they are. When we stop using the terms “rapist” or “felon,” we allow history to be rewritten. That silence helps erase harm—and the people harmed.

3. He Has Openly Disrespected Marginalized Communities

trump the rapist draft dodger president has repeatedly demonstrated hostility toward women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, disabled individuals, and those with addiction disorders:

• Women: From the infamous “grab them by the p***y” tape to belittling female reporters and political opponents, his misogyny is documented and persistent.

• People of Color - His racist remarks about Mexicans, the “Muslim ban,” and calling countries with mostly Black populations “shit hole countries” reflect a deep disdain for non-white people.

• Veterans - He mocked Senator John McCain for being captured, calling him a “loser,” and allegedly called fallen soldiers “suckers.”

• People with Disabilities - He publicly mocked a disabled reporter at a campaign rally, one of the most grotesque moments of his campaign.

• People with Addictions - He has pushed cruel policies while ignoring the root causes of addiction, and once even suggested executing drug offenders as a solution.

This isn’t policy disagreement—it’s dehumanization.

We Cannot Normalize This Behavior

Every time the media refers to him simply as “former President Trump,” they fail to remind the public of the full truth. That sanitization allows people to forget the damage done, the lives harmed, and the danger he still represents.

It is not extreme to speak the truth. It is extreme to accept rape, lies, racism, and cruelty as just another part of political life.

When we refuse to name Trump’s behavior for what it is, we send a dangerous message to victims of sexual assault, racism, and ableism: that their pain is not worth the discomfort it might cause others to acknowledge. Naming him accurately is a way of standing with the people he has hurt.

We do not use these labels out of hatred—we use them out of a demand for justice, for truth, and for a future that is not ruled by fear or authoritarianism.

We owe it to the survivors. We owe it to  democracy. And we owe it to ourselves.



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